RISING Ballarat athletes took to the track at Perth\u2019s WA Athletics Stadium over the weekend to bring home more than half a dozen medal in the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships.<\/p>\n
Nine local athletes claimed seven top-place medals in running, long jump, and vaulting competitions, with events running from Friday to Sunday.<\/p>\n
Wendouree resident and Ballarat Grammar student Mackayla Culvenor competed out of her triple jump comfort zone to take the silver in the Women\u2019s Under 16 Long Jump.<\/p>\n
The event was her second time participating in the All Schools nationals and she said it\u2019s a great platform for serious competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe experience is a lot different to the AVSL [Athletics Victoria Shield League] we do in Ballarat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really good opportunity for us to experience bigger competitions where everything\u2019s taken a lot more seriously and you get used to the practices they\u2019d use in international competitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast All Schools nationals I\u2019d peaked and everything clicked with all my training. This time I\u2019d just got off quite a few injuries and long jump isn\u2019t normally what I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I\u2019d go in for a PB and see how well I went so to come second I was really quite proud. It\u2019s given me a confidence boost in knowing I can go into the next nationals and do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Molly Fraser won gold in the Women\u2019s Under 18 Long Jump with a 5.65-metre effort while Armani Anderson took the top spot in the Women\u2019s Under 17 100-metre event with a time of 11.84 seconds.<\/p>\n
Scott Peart claimed bronze in the 5000-metre racewalk with Fraser also nabbing silver in the Women\u2019s Under 18 triple jump, and Grace Crowe and Mackenzie Estlick sprinting to third place as part of the Victorian 4 x 100-metre relay team.<\/p>\n
Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre manager Ashley Anderson said the competition is a step up for local athletes to represent not just the region but the state of Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo get any medal coming from a regional town in a national event is a huge achievement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve not only got to represent Ballarat but you\u2019ve got to represent the state against kids from across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur Ballarat athletes certainly exceeded expectations when it comes to competing at the top level. In regards to last year, it was fairly similar with two golds but of course from different athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RISING Ballarat athletes took to the track at Perth\u2019s WA Athletics Stadium over the weekend to bring home more than half a dozen medal in the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships. Nine local athletes claimed seven top-place medals in running, long jump, and vaulting competitions, with events running from Friday to Sunday. Wendouree resident and […]<\/p>\n